Management article with retractable hangars

Abstract

A hanging file folder or other management article, e.g., file folder, report cover, notebook, binder, or media cover, comprising retractable hangers.

1 . A management article comprising: 
 a first side panel having outer and inner edges;    a second side panel having outer and inner edges;    a binding edge interposed between said inner edges of said first and second side panels for coupling said first and second side panels;    a track member arranged in parallel to the outer edge of at least one of said side panels and comprising two or more ribs arranged substantially parallel to said outer edge; and    two hangers selectively retractably mounted within said track member;    wherein at least one of said first and second side panels includes first and second hangers each having a main body, an outer end and an inner end opposite the outer end, said inner end repositionably engaged with said track member;    wherein said file folder is usable as a hanging file folder when said first and second hangers are extended out from said outer edges of said at least one of said first and second panels, and said hangers can be repositioned on said track member so as to substantially not extend beyond said side panel; and    wherein at least one of said track member and said hanger comprises two or more ribs extending longitudinally to the direction of retraction of the hangers.    
   
   
       2 . The article of  claim 1  wherein said track member comprises a multiplicity of parallel, narrowly spaced, elastically deformable ribs projecting from a base sheet; the ribs comprising a stem portion attached to and substantially upright from the base sheet and at least one flange attached to each side of the stem portion and spaced from the base sheet; the cross-sectional profile formed by the ribs being substantially uniform over the length of the ribs.  
   
   
       3 . The article of  claim 2  wherein at least some of said ribs are interrupted over their length.  
   
   
       4 . The article of  claim 3  wherein substantially all of said ribs are interrupted in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis said ribs to limit the relative sliding motion between said track member and a tab member engaged with said track member.  
   
   
       5 . The article of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first and second hangers has at least one of an elongated portion and a cut away portion at the inner end thereof to form a reduced width portion, the reduced width portion being overlapable with the inner end of the other of said first and second hanger;  
   
   
       6 . The article of  claim 1  comprising at least two track members, one arranged in parallel to the outer edge of said first side panel and one arranged in parallel to the outer edge of said second side panel.  
   
   
       7 . The article of  claim 1  wherein said hangers each comprise two or more ribs that are arranged substantially parallel to the ribs of said track member, said hanger ribs being mechanically engaged with said ribs of said track member, said hangers being repositionable along said track member.  
   
   
       8 . The article of  claim 1  wherein said hangers are releasably engaged with said track member.  
   
   
       9 . The article of  claim 1  wherein said track member extends along the major portion of said top edge.  
   
   
       10 . The article of  claim 1  wherein said article is selected from the group consisting of file folder, binder, notebook, report cover, and media folder.  
   
   
       11 . A management article comprising: 
 a first side panel having outer and inner edges;    a second side panel having outer and inner edges;    a binding edge interposed between said inner edges of said first and second side panels for coupling said first and second side panels;    a track member arranged in parallel to at least one of the outer edge or inner edge of at least one of said side panels and comprising two or more ribs arranged substantially parallel to said outer edge; and    two hangers selectively retractably mounted within said track member;    wherein at least one of said first and second side panels includes first and second hangers each having a main body, an outer end and an inner end opposite the outer end, said inner end repositionably engaged with said track member;    wherein said file folder or binder is usable as a hanging file folder or binder when said first and second hangers are extended out from said at least one said panel, and said hangers can be repositioned on said track member so as to substantially not extend beyond said side panel; and    wherein at least one of said track member and said hanger comprises two or more ribs extending longitudinally to the direction of retraction of the hangers.    
   
   
       12 . The article of  claim 11  wherein said article is selected from the group consisting of file folder, binder, notebook, report cover, and media folder.  
   
   
       13 . A kit for providing a retractable hangers to a management article, said kit comprising at least one track member comprising a multiplicity of parallel, narrowly spaced, elastically deformable ribs projecting from a base sheet; the ribs comprising a stem portion attached to and substantially upright from the base sheet and at least one flange attached to each side of the stem portion and spaced from the base sheet; the cross-sectional profile formed by the ribs being substantially uniform over the length of the ribs and at least one hanger that can repositionably engage with said ribs of said track member.